Ring block
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Ring block is the name of a nerve blocking local anesthesia procedure that is used to reduce the pain of non-therapeutic neonatal circumcision.
Ring block was proposed by Broadman et al. (1987) to reduce, not eliminate, the pain if a boy is to be circumcised. Broadman et al. also proposed the use of low-dose intravenous fentanyl for post-operative pain relief.[1]
Ring block is considered to be more effective than dorsal penile nerve block or EMLA cream.[2]
This procedure does NOT totally eliminate pain. A baby boy will still experience some pain and trauma with this analgesic procedure. Prevention of pain requires protecting a boy from elective neonatal non-therapeutic circumcision. Only boys who are protected from the medically unnecessary, non-therapeutic circumcision surgery experience no pain or trauma.
The penis is innervated by both dorsal and perineal nerves,[3] therefore ring block can never be totally effective.
References
- ↑
Broadman LM, Hannallah RS, Belman, AB, Elder PT, Ruttimann, U, Epstein BS. Post-circumcision analgesia—a prospective evaluation of subcutaneous ring block of the penis 
. Anesthesiology. September 1987; 67(3): 399-402. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ↑ Lander J, Brady-Frerer B, Metcalfe JB, Nazerali S, Muttit S. Comparison of ring block, dorsal penile nerve block, and topical anesthesia for neonatal circumcision. JAMA. 24 December 1997; 278(24): 2157-64. PMID. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ↑ Cepeda-Emiliani A, Gándara-Cortés M, Otero-Alén M, García H, Suárez-Quintanilla J, García-Caballero T, Gallego R, García-Caballero R. Immunohistological study of the density and distribution of human penile neural tissue: gradient hypothesis. Int J Impot Res. 2 May 2023; 35(3): 286-305. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
